The report also cited Liu Weiping, vice-minister of water resources, as saying Wednesday that reservoirs have replenished 5.3 billion cubic meters of water in the middle and lower parts of the Yangtze River since August.
The latest heatwave and power outages were reminiscent of the significant blackout last year that enveloped many of China’s key manufacturing hubs such as Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.
“Last year, as we have estimated, the power shortage period has caused China about a 0.6% point of GDP growth,” Wang said. “This year we think this number will be a lot higher… I would say 1.5% point lower.”
“Right now, we are giving 4% of GDP growth for the full year. If the current situation continues, then I have to say the growth rate is probably below [3%],” she added.
